SENG6140

Software Architecture and Quality Management

Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

10 Units 6000 Level Course

Available in 2013

Callaghan Campus	Semester 1

Previously offered in 2012, 2011

This course has two major parts: Software Architecture and Quality Management.
The first part of this course introduces the field of Software Architecture and develops skills in designing software architectures. A number of architectural styles, focusing on strengths and weaknesses of each, will be discussed. Case studies will be used to demonstrate the design of software architectures. Software architecture has a significant impact on the system quality.
The second part of this course introduces concepts of software quality. It examines principles and techniques for designing quality into software, and for measuring and monitoring quality in software. It focuses on the use of standards, and on formal and informal methods for software verification and validation.

Objectives

At the completion of this course students will:
1) Have a detailed understanding of a number of software architecture styles, and the techniques used for architecture design.
2) Be able to evaluate the different architecture styles available, and to choose the most appropriate style for a large software system.
3) Understand the general strategies used for quality improvement.
4) Understand a number of software metrics and their application in software projects.
5) Understand the role of component quality in the overall quality of a large software system.
6) Be familiar with formal and informal methods for software verification and validation.
7) Understand what is required to manage quality throughout a software project, to produce a high quality final product.
8) Have developed effective verbal and written communication skills

Content

Topics for this course are:
" Basic concepts of Software Architecture
" Architecture Design: global analysis
" Architecture Design: conceptual view
" Architecture Design: module view
" Architectural Styles
" Architectural Analysis and Evaluation using case studies
" Formal Methods for Software Verification
" Informal methods for Software Verification and Validation
" Software Quality Measurement
" Software Quality Management

Replacing Course(s)

SENG4420 Software Architecture

Transition

Students may not obtain credit for both SENG6140 and SENG4420.

Industrial Experience

Assumed Knowledge

Permission of Head of Discipline required before enrolling in this course

Modes of Delivery

Internal Mode

Teaching Methods

Lecture
Workshop

Assessment Items

Essays / Written Assignments	Written Assignments 30%
Examination: Formal	Final Examination 40%
Projects	Architecture Project 30% - including verbal presentation of software design

Contact Hours

Lecture: for 3 hour(s) per Week for Full Term
Workshop: for 2 hour(s) per Week for Full Term

Compulsory Components

Compulsory Course Component

Students must obtain 40% in the final exam to pass the course.
Student achieving >25% but less that 40% will be offered an alternate assessment if, and only if, all other assessment items have been submitted.
Students obtaining <25% will not be offered an alternate assessment, and will fail the course, unless students have submitted Adverse Circumstances in accordance with the Adverse Circumstances Policy.

Timetables